Cengiz Aktar: No regression in Armenian-Turkish dialogue

The Armenian-Turkish dialogue is deepening and becoming many-sided, Cengiz Aktar, journalist, EU relations expert at Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, said addressing an international conference titled “Building Awareness of Turkish Society Regarding the Armenian Genocide” on March 15 in Yerevan.

According to the expert, the Turkish public has been changing since 1993 when they started to talk about the Armenian Genocide.

“Now I am sure that the process cannot stop or regress,” the expert said adding that the Agos newspaper of Istanbul has played a great role in the process of familiarization with Armenia and Armenians.

“Everyone started looking for Armenian trace in their families, Armenian-Turkish acquaintances were established. The closure of the Armenian-Turkish border in 1993 suspended this process to some extent, especially affecting the contacts between the Armenian and Turkish publics, nevertheless, the contacts are still kept,” Aktar said.

The Turkish journalist noted that the intercultural dialogue between Armenia and Turkey also continues.

“Armenian churches are restored in Turkey, and Surb Khach (Holy Cross) Church on Aghtamar Island in Turkey is not a single case,” he said stressing that the aim of restoring the Armenian churches is not only development of tourism.

“Moreover, it’s the first time since 1915 that an Armenian church in Istanbul is restored with state funds,” the expert stressed.

He stated that Armenia and Turkey also expand cooperation within the framework of international conferences and discussions focusing on the tragic events of the early 20th century.

Cengiz Aktar is a member of the Forgiveness Campaign. The campaign was launched in 2008. Members of the campaign have publicly apologized to Armenia for the Armenian Genocide. The Armenian translation of C. Aktar’s book titled “A Call to Forgive” will be presented in Yerevan.